March 13, 2025

PFAS on Cape Cod – Connecting Communities with Science for Solutions

This webinar series will provide community members, health professionals, and policymakers with up-to-date research, practical solutions, and an opportunity to engage directly with experts. Each one-hour webinar will include presentations and a live Q&A, with recordings available on the STEEP website for those unable to attend.

Upcoming Webinars

Webinar #4: Understanding PFAS Together: Tribal Voices & Risk Communication
Date: Wednesday, October 15, 2025
Time: Noon – 1:00 PM (ET)
Location: Online Webinar
Register using this link

In partnership with the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, this webinar explores the intersection of PFAS science, risk communication, and Tribal sovereignty. STEEP researchers and Tribal leaders will share insights from ongoing collaborations—including fish and shellfish testing, community surveys, youth science programs, and outreach events—designed to balance traditional lifeways such as fishing, hunting, and food gathering with strategies to reduce PFAS exposure. Participants will gain practical examples of how culturally grounded, clear communication can protect both community health and cultural heritage.

Featured Speakers:

Jason Steiding — Natural Resources Director & eagle clan member, Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe. Responsible for leading Tribal efforts in fish and wildlife restoration, habitat protection, food sovereignty, and water resource management, with a focus on ensuring Tribal voices are included in regional environmental decision-making.

 

Emily Diamond, PhD — Associate Professor, Communication Studies & Marine Affairs, University of Rhode Island. Focuses on how communication and identity influence public responses to environmental issues. Leads STEEP’s Tribal engagement work including designing risk communication and coordinating community outreach.

 

Laurel Schaider, PhD (Moderator) — Senior Scientist, Silent Spring Institute & Lead Researcher, STEEP. Specializes in PFAS testing in drinking water and partners with communities and Tribal groups to share scientific findings, communicate risks, and support public health decision-making locally and nationally.

 

This webinar builds on prior partnerships between STEEP, Silent Spring Institute, and the Tribe, and continues to connect research with practical solutions for Tribal members, residents, policymakers, and health professionals. A live Q&A will follow.

 

Webinar #3: PFAS in Cape Cod Drinking Water and Community Health Concerns
Date: Thursday, September 18, 2025
Time: Noon – 1:00 PM (ET)
Location: Online Webinar
Register using this link

Join us for Webinar #3 in the PFAS on Cape Cod – Connecting Communities with Science for Solutions series. This session will explore PFAS contamination in Cape Cod’s drinking water and the resulting community health concerns. Presenters will share recent research findings, discuss public health impacts, and highlight ongoing efforts to inform and protect local residents.

Featured Speakers:

  • Laurel Schaider, PhD, is a Senior Scientist at Silent Spring Institute and a lead researcher with the STEEP Superfund Research Program. Dr. Schaider will present recent findings on PFAS in drinking water supplies across Cape Cod and the implications for environmental health.
  • Cheryl Osimo, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition and Cape Cod Coordinator for Silent Spring Institute, will speak about community outreach efforts and how local residents can take action to reduce exposure and advocate for safer water systems.
  • Emily Diamond, PhD (moderator), Associate Professor of Communication Studies and Marine Affairs, University of Rhode Island. Dr. Diamond studies how science communication influences public understanding and policy support. She focuses on improving dialogue between scientists, communities, and decision-makers on complex environmental issues.

This webinar continues our focus on connecting scientific research with actionable information for community members, policymakers, and health professionals. A live Q&A will follow the presentations.

Past Webinars

Webinar #2: Addressing PFAS Contamination in Water and Fish

Date: Thursday, April 17, 2025
Time: Noon – 1:00 PM (ET)
View Webinar passcode: pqLI$^&6

Join us for Webinar #2 in this series, focusing on PFAS contamination in Cape Cod’s surface waters and fish. Heidi Pickard, PhD will share findings from her recent research on PFAS accumulation in fish near Joint Base Cape Cod and how firefighting foam (AFFF), septic systems, and agricultural runoff contribute to contamination. Mark Ells, Barnstable Town Manager, will discuss local government strategies to mitigate PFAS in Cape Cod’s water resources and protect public health. This will be a moderated discussion followed by a Q&A session.

Featured Speakers:

  • Heidi Pickard is a Lead Consultant at Ramboll with over a decade of experience researching PFAS. She recently completed a PhD and postdoctoral fellowship in Environmental Engineering at Harvard and was a former STEEP trainee. Her research focused on how human-released contaminants affect ecosystems and expertise includes fate and transport, environmental forensics.
  • Mark Ells is the Town Manager of Barnstable, MA, with nearly 30 years of experience in local government. He began his career in the Department of Public Works, later serving as Director and then Assistant Town Manager before stepping into his current leadership role. Mr. Ells plays a key role in addressing PFAS contamination in Cape Cod’s water resources, leading local government efforts on mitigation strategies, community response, and regulatory measures to protect public health.
  • Moderator:
    • Laurel Schaider, STEEP Researcher and Senior Scientist at the Silent Spring Institute, whose work focuses on PFAS and environmental health.

 

Webinar #1: Household Exposures and Community Solutions

Date: Wednesday, March 20, 2025
Time: Noon – 1:00 PM (ET)
View Webinar passcode: ?Xi4ST@&

Join us for an engaging discussion on the latest research examining household exposures to PFAS and other harmful chemicals in consumer products. Learn how communities are taking action to reduce these exposures and protect public health.

Featured Speakers:

  • Rainer Lohmann, Professor at the University of Rhode Island and Director of STEEP, will present recent research findings on the presence of PFAS in household environments and everyday products.
  • Chris Powicki, Chair of the Sierra Club Cape Cod & the Islands Group, will share community-driven initiatives and policy efforts aimed at reducing PFAS contamination and empowering residents to minimize their exposure.

Moderator:

  • Laurel Schaider, STEEP Researcher and Senior Scientist at the Silent Spring Institute, whose work focuses on PFAS and environmental health.